Aerial advertising apparatus



April 114, 1931. E-c FINLAY 1,800,681

AERL ADvE'rIs-ING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13l 1925 m Jai@ Hfs Tropf/ss.

Patented Apr. .14, 1931 UNITED `STATES PATEN' OFFIQE EDGAR GFINLAY, OFSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO AERIALADVERTISING COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEVADA AERIAL ADVERTISINGAPPARATUS Application filed February 10 the character described whereina balloon,

kite or other aerial vehicle of this nature may be eifectively employedto maintain a sign Containing suitable advertising matter in a positionso that it will be effectively disi played as above described.

The invention further resides in the provision of a structure or signfor supporting advertising subject matter, which structure or sign maybe readily attached to the kite,

balloon or other aerial device, or to the line leading from the balloonor other aerial device to an anchorage, thesaid supporting structure orsign being of novel construction and arranged so that it will at alltimes remain in position to effectively display the advertising mattersupported thereon.

Another object is to provide a sign or supporting structure of thecharacter described which will be exceptionally light, strong and 39durable and which may be made up on comparatively large sizes so thatthe effectiveness of the advertising display will be enhanced withoutmaterially increasing the weight or rendering the apparatus as a wholemore dif- 5 ficultl to handle and operate.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and set forth in theclaims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in theform, proportion, size and minor details of construction 5 within thescope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from thespiritor sacricing any of the advantages of the invention. Y

Referring tc the drawing:

Fig. l represents afront elevation of aerial advertising apparatusconstructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the apparatus as it will appearwhen in use.

Fig. l represents a top plan View of the sign.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, Ihave provided a captive balloon generally designated 5, which `isemployed as a means for supporting a'sign or advertising supportingframe 6. The balloon 5 is held by a suitable line 7 extending to thesign and a line 8 extends from the sign to the balloon. As a matter offact, these lines 7 and 8 may be one continuous line extending throughthe sign as shown in Fig. l, or several lines may be secured together soas to have the same eifect as one continuous line. While I have shown abal loon as an aerial supporting means for the sign, I may employ akite, or any other suitable means which will serve the purpose of theballoon or the kite.

The sign 6 is of special construction for the following reasons: First,so that it may be made comparatively large without materially increasingthe welght or causing the apparatus as a whole to become clumsy anddifficult to operate; second, so that it may be strong and durable aswell as light and large; and third, so that it will maintain thedesir-ed position to effectively display advertising matter in heavy aswell as light winds land will so operate under variable weatherconditions.

The sign is composed of a flexible fabric, net work body designated 9,preferably made of cord of like flexible material and with its mesheslike that of an ordinary tennis net, but of course said body is ofgreater size than the ordinary tennis net. Along the lower and upperlongitudinal edges of this flexible net body, small stiffening rods l()and 1l respectively are secured in any suitable manner, said rods beingformed of wood, aluminum or any other light, strong substance. Fastendedcentrally of their ends to said rods 10 and 11 and extendingtransversely thereof,

are a plurality of small light cross rods 12, 13, 14 and 15, of whichthe one 12 is the shorter; the'one 13 longer than the one 12; the one 14longer than the one 13 and the one 15 approximately the same length asthe one 13. vvThese cross rods are fastened in any suit-able mannereither Vby being wrapped with wire or cord or by using other fasteningelements and they arespaced apart equa-distant'ly from one another asshown in Fig. 4.

Guy wires or cords 161and 17 are fastened to the extremities of the rods10 and 11 on one side of the net, being fastened or secured in anysuitable maner to the ends of the cross 5, rods 12, 13, 14 and'15. Thewires 17` extend from certain ends of the members` 10 and '11 to the`rod 14 andthe wires-16 extend from the` other ends of the members 10 and11 to said rod 14. Similar guywires 18 and 19 are identically arrangedon the other side of the net. This bracing arrangement provides a strongand durable signv structure but does not deprive the structure of thedesired iexibility. v I l l The lines 7 and 8 leading to the balloon maybe arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. TheY line 7 is rfastened to aring 2O to which ring are connected a plurality of flexible stays21.These stays are fastened tothe terminals of the,y rodl 10 and to theterminals of tute tension members extending between the the cross rods12, 13,14 and 15, and converge fromthese points towards the ring.Extending from. the ring in alignment with the'l cord .7 isa cord orline 22 which is joined to, the -rod 10 to one side of a point centrallyofthe ends o-f said rod and at which point thelower cross rod 14 isfastened. Another cord23, or in vfact a cordy which may be Considered asan extension of the. cordt 22, extends` up along one side of and throughthe netl body ldirectly tothe upper rod 11y and is fastened to said rodvat the point where the upper post 14 is secured, this toene side of thecenter of Y the net. Another cord 24 constituting an extension of thecord 23fextends from the. point` where the cord 23 isfastened to themember 11 up to a ring 25 to. which it isl fastened.

Flexible stays 26 corresponding tothe stays are connect-edI wi.ththeringand withl the, uppercross rods as well-as therod 1 1, in

thesame-manner as are-the stays 21. Cords V27, shown in Figure 2,connect correspondlng ends of the upper and lower cross rods 12, 13, 14and: v1,5. The line or cord 8 is fastened to the ring and is extendedupto the balloon. Inthis way asy shown Vin Figure 1,

l th-e cords lor lines 8, 24, 23, 22 and 7 are virtually one; lineextending in alinement directly from the anchorage on the ground throughthe sign and to the balloon. This line in beingf'astened, to the sign onone side of the vertical' median line of the net,l disposes the sign offcenter soithati'twill be effectively and steadily heldin the windlikeaweather vane.

All tendency of the napping, of the sign is eliminated by thisoffsetting thereof.

As noted, the sign may include letters as shown at 28. The-se lettersmay be of clot-h or any other material but are preferably of flexiblematerial. Instead of using letters, any other advertising or displaymeans Vmay be employed and supported upon the vnet work i.

possible these proportions and also provides i for a safe and easyoperationjor handling of.

the sign and other rigging under various weather conditions.v

Any number of cross rods or bracing arrangements as shown atthe upperand lower edges of theV net work sign may, if desired,Y

be placed between theedges of the sign and this will depend uponthe'depth or widthfof the sign. Y' Y Y The cords 27 shown in Figs.. 1and 2 constiupper and lower parts of theaerial sign structure and serveto limit the separation Aofthe lower and upper stiening rod's 10 and`11v to which the lower and upper longitudinal edges Vof the networkbody are attached.A By functioning in this manner they control or limit'the tension to which the net bodyl 9 may be subjectedby the upward pullofthe balloon 5 on'the anchorage element by which it is secured, totheground.,y f

In this manner valuable objects and advantagesof the invention areattained in that the sign may,as a result of such expedient, be made ofa relatively fragile net but may be causedto satisfactorily operate todisplay' advertising in an effective manner for-the reason that meansare employed withthe'net sign supporting structure 9 for holding itintension and for controlling or limiting the tension within the limitsof strength. of the net,

yet 'suflici'ent to hold it taut.

I claim :v Y f 1. Aerial :advertising apparatus comprising a-net,stiffening rods extending along the upper and lower edges of thel netand: at-

tached thereto, cross rods extending transversely of said; stiffeningrods` and attached thereto intermediate theirv ends, staysconnectin-g'the'ends of said cross rods with said stiffening rods, andanaerial, vehicle VforV supporting said net., l

2. Aerial advertising apparatuscomprising a net, a stiffening rodextending, along a .horizontal edge of said. net and attachedl thereto,a cross rod extending transversely of said stiiening rod and attachedthereto intermediate its ends, stays connecting the ends of said crossrod with said stiffening rod, and an aerial vehicle supporting said net.

3. Aerial advertising apparatus comprising a net, a stiilening rodextending along a horizontal edge of said net and attached thereto, aplurality of cross rods of dierent lengths extending transversely ofsaid stiiiening rod and attached thereto intermediate their ends, sta-ysconnecting the ends of said cross rods with each other and with saidstiiiening rod, and an aerial vehicle for supporting said net.

4. Aerial advertising apparatus comprisinga net, stiffening rodsextending along the upper and lower edges of the net and at- Y tachedthereto, cross rods extending transversel;7 of said stiiiening rods andattached thereto intermediate their ends, stays connecting the ends ofsaid cross rods with said stif'fening rods, an aerial vehicle forsupporting said net, means for anchoring said vehicle to the ground, anddiagonal guys extending from the plane of said cross rods and connectingthe ends of said cross rods with said anchoring means.

5. An aerial advertising device, including: an air vehicle; an anchorageelement for said vehicle; a net sign incorporated with said anchorageelement in such a manner that tension in said element will operate to'place tension in said net sign; and means for limiting the tension soplaced in said net sign.

6. An aerial sign structure for suspension from an air vehicle,including: a net sign; means for placing tension 0n said net sign; andmeans for limiting the tension which may be placed on said net sign tothat serving to hold the net sign against flapping under wind action towhich it is subjected in the air.

7. An aerial sign structure for suspension from an air vehicle,including: a net sign; means for placing tension on said net sign; andmeans for limiting the tension which may be placed on said net sign tothat serving to hold the net sign substantially iiat extendingvertically from the upper portion to the lower portion of said net sign.

8. An aerial advertising device, including: an air vehicle; an upperattachment means below said vehicle; a display structure attached tosaid upper attachment means, said structure comprising an upper frame, alower frame, tension members extending between said upper and lowerframes, and a display fabric extended between said upper and lowerframes; a lower attachment means below said lower frame and attachedthereto; and an anchor member extending downward from said lowerattachment means to a point of anchorage.

9. An aerial advertising device, including:

.g5 an air vehicle; an upper attachment means below said vehicle; adisplay structure attached to said upper attachment means, saidstructure comprising an upper frame, a lower frame, said upper and lowerframes lying in horizontal planes, tension members extending betweensaid upper and lower frames, and a display fabric extended between saidupper and lower'frames; a lower attachment means below said lower frameand attached thereto; and an anchor member extending downward from saidlower attachment means to a point of anchorage.

10. In an aerial advertising device, the combination of: an air vehicle;an anchorage element for said vehicle; a sign incorporated with saidanchorage element in such a manner that tension in said element willoperate to place tension in said sign; and flexible means for limitingthe tension so placed in said sign.

EDGAR G. FINLAY.

